rily put his hand on his shoulder,
and kissed him, saying: "The kiss of peace in the wilderness to thee!"
And he found him smooth-faced and sweet-breathed.

But the new comer took his hand and led him to where the firelight was
brightest and looked on him silently a while; and Ralph gave back the
look. The strange-wrought sallet hid but little of the new comer's
face, and as Ralph looked thereon a sudden joy came into his heart, and
he cried out: "O, but I have kissed thy face before! O, my friend, my
friend!"

Then spake the new-comer and said: "Yea, I am a woman, and I was thy
friend for a little while at Bourton Abbas, and at the want-ways of the
Wood Perilous."

Then Ralph cast his arms about her and kissed her again; but she
withdrew her from him, and said: "Help me, my friend, that we may
gather sticks to feed our fire, lest it die and the dark come again so
that we see not each other's faces, and think that we have but met in a
dream."

Then she busied herself with gathering the kindling; but presently she
looked up at him, and said: "Let us make the wood shine wide about,
for this is a feastful night."

So they gathered a heap of wood and made the fire great; and then Ralph
did off his helm and hauberk and the damsel did the like, so that he
could see the shapeliness of her uncovered head. Then they sat down
before the fire, and the damsel drew meat and drink from her
saddle-bags, and gave thereof to Ralph, who took it of her and her hand
withal, and smiled on her and said: "Shall we be friends together as
we were at Bourton Abbas and the want-ways of the Wood Perilous?" She
shook her head and said: "If it might be! but it may not be. Not many
days have worn since then; but they have brought about changed days."
He looked on her wistfully and said: "But thou wert dear to me then."

"Yea," she said, "and thou to me; but other things have befallen, and
there is change betwixt."

"Nay, what change?" said Ralph.

Even by the firelight he saw that she reddened as she answered: "I was
a free woman then; now am I but a runaway thrall." Then Ralph laughed
merrily, and said, "Then are we brought the nigher together, for I also
am a runaway thrall."

She smiled and looked down: then she said: "Wilt thou tell me how
that befell?"

"Yea," said he, "but I will ask thee first a question or two." She
nodded a yeasay, and looked on him soberly, as a child waiting to say
its task.

Said Ralph: "When